Pipe-cleaning machine



Se t. 19, 1933- c. J. COBERLY El AL PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l h I! ltrlllllllli 1H n w Sept. 19, 1933. Q COBERLY AL 1,927,391

PIPE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 19, 1933 1,927,391 PIPE-CLEANING MACHINE Clar'enceJ. Coberly, Les Angeles, and Ernest S. Croasdale, Glendale, (Jaliil, assignors'to Kobe, Inc., Huntington Park, Calif, a corporation of California Application December 15, 1930 Serial No. 502,355

12 Claims.

Qur invention relates to a novel pipe-cleaning machine, and to certain novel structures incorporated therein.

it is often desirable to be able to smooth the internal surface of a pipe so as to remove therefrom any burrs orunnecessary roughening which Would cause turbulence in a stream of water passing therethrough or which would collect 'dbris. Thus, when slots are cut in a length of pipe by the use of a cutting torch or other cutting apparatus it has been found that the inner edges of these slotsare slightly roughened. This roughening may be easily removed by scraping or otherwise surfacing the interior of the pipe, and it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel cleaning machine wherein this operation is accomplished with a minimum of manual labor. We have further found it desirable to rotatably support the pipe, and to move the cutter into one end of the pipe, and it is an object of this invention to provide a pipe-cleaning machine wherein the pipe rotates while the cutter is moved therethrough. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structure for advancing the cutter relative to the pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel device for rotatably supporting a cylinder such as a pipe, anda novel drive means for such a cylinder or pipe. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a driving means in which the amount of driving force applied to the cylinder or pipe may be readily controlled. I I

Still further objects and advantages of the in,- vention will be made evident hereinafter. Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a foreshortened elevational viewof our apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the slip device incorporated in the drive means.

Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1. I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view'of the line 55 of Fig. 1. 7

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, we provide a plurality of supports 10spacec1 from and aligned with each other. Each of these supports pro vides a base 11 at its upper end, best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, this base being provided with end the cutter taken on plates 12' and 13. Primary and secondary shafts 14 and 15 extend between these end plates in parallel relationship with each other.

Each of these shafts rotatably mounts two rolls, indicated by the numerals 18 and 19, respectively positioned adjacent the end plates 12 and 13. In 60 the preferred form these rolls may be in the form of a ball bearing in which the inner race is of such a diameter as to be pressed on the shaft 14, the outer race forming a rolling surface.

The two rolls 18 on each support, as well as the rolls 19 thereon, respectively comprise pairs of rolls for rotatably supporting a cylindrical member which may be in the form of a pipe 20, these pairs of rolls contacting the external surface of this pipe. To prevent unlimited axial movement of the pipe 20 during the rotation thereof, we prefer to secure a ring 22 to the end thereof,.this ring also acting to protect the end of the pipe and any threads or other accurately machined surfaces thereon. This ring is largerin diameter than the pipe 20. If the pipe should move leftward from the position indicated in Fig. 1, thismcvement would be limited by engagement betweenIthe ring 22 and the rolls 19 on the primary and secondary shafts. We prefer to replace the rolls 18 on theend support 10 with a pair of stop members 25 slightly larger in diameter than the rolls 18 so that the ring 22 will abutthereagainst to prevent movement of the pipe 20 to the right of its position shown in Fig. 1. The stop members 25 are preferably rotatably mounted in the same manner as the rolls 18.

The pipe .20 is rotated by a roller which frictionally engages therewith. This roller is preferably formed of rubber and .is rotatably mounted between channels 31 and 32 forming a part of an arm structure 33. This arm struc-' ture extends substantially horizontally, when in its operative position shown in Fig. 3, and a shaft 34 is secured to the rear end thereof as by a U-bolt 35, this shaft being rotatable in a journal box 36 secured to a head 37 of a base 38. The arm structure 33 is thus pivoted aboutthe axis of the shaft 34, and the position thereof is determined by a position controlling means 40 which, in the form shown in Fig. 3, is in the form of a cylinder 41 in which a double-acting piston 42 slides, this piston being connected to the arm structure 33 through an arm 44 secured to the arm structure and attached to the piston 42.

The position of this piston is determined by the amount of air or other fluid in the opposite ends of the cylinder 41, there being a pipe communicating with the upper end of this cylinder, and a pipe 51 communicating with the lower end 7 ton 42 and arm structure 33.

5 thereof, as best shown in Fig. 5.

thereof. These pipes extend to a four-way valve 52 of well-known form, this valve being provided with an exhaust pipe 53 and an intake pipe 54. A handle 55 when in a primary position, interconnects the pipes 54 and 50, as well as the pipes 53 and 51. This moves the piston 42 and the arm structure 33 downward. When moved into a secondary position, the handle 55 controls the interconnection ofthe pipes 54 and 51, and the pipes 53 and 50, thereby supplying fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 41 and raising the pis- When in an intermediate position the handle, 55 shuts off all com.- munication between either of the pipes 50 and 51 and the pipes 53 and 54, and also prevents com-- munication between the pipes 50 and 51 themselves, thereby retaining the desired amount of fluid in the opposite ends of the cylinder 41 and holding the arm structure 33 in the position which it occupied at the time that the handle 55 was moved into the intermediate posit-ion. Thus, the position of the arm 33 is easily con trolled, and the force between the roller 30 and the pipe 20 readily varied, thereby varying the driving force.

The roller 30 may be driven by any suitable means, but I prefer to utilize an electric motor 60 mounted on the arm structure 33 and connected to the roller 30 by a chainfil extending around suitable sprockets mounted on the motor 60 and roller 30. This construction permits the weight of the motor to be utilized in increasing a frictional force between the roller 30 and the pipe 20, and introduces no complications in driving the roller 30 because of the pivotal mounting of the arm structure 33. The control switch for the motor 60 is preferably positioned close to the four-way valve 52, and it should be understood that the showing of Fig. 3 is only diagrammatic and that this switch and valve may be positioned at any remote control point convenient to the operator.

Spaced from the end support 10, and in alignment with the pipe 20, is a track means '70 mount- 45' ed on frames '71. In its preferred form, this track means is in the form of an I-beam '73 resting on the frames '71, the inner surfaces of the flanges thereof being suitably machined to I permit wheels to roll thercalong. These wheels are preferably flanged, as indicated in Fig. l, and are rotatably mounted on shafts '76 secured to and forming a partof a carriage '77. It is preferable to mount each wheel 75 on its respective shaft '76 by the use of a ball bearing '78 protected by a plate '79. Any number of these shafts may be utilized, each shaft having a wheel rotatably mounted thereon but we prefer to utilize four of these shafts and wheels whereby the carriage '77 may freely move along the track means '70.

The carriage 7'7 provides a U-bolt 81 which clamps one end of a ram which may be in the form of a rod or pipe, the other end of this ram extending toward the pipe 20 and having a cutter 83 loosely mounted thereon as by a pin 84 65' shown in Fig. 1. This'cutter is relatively massive and is formed of a weight member 85 which, in the preferred form of the invention, is so formed asto provide a channel 86 in the lower surface A wedge 8'7 is adapted to be forced into the channel 86 by a cap screw 88 soas to hold blades 90 firmly against the side walls of the channel 86. The side walls of the channel are so formed that these blades 90 extend from the weight member 85 at an angle relative to each other. Very satisfactory results are obtained if these blades extend substantially at right angles to each other, but we are not at all limited to this particular positioning thereof. Each blade is sharpened at its outer end as indicated in Fig. 5 and is relatively cheaply replaced in view of being formed of a fiat plate of suitable steel or other hard material. Any num ber of these plates may be utilized, but most satisfactory results are obtained by using a pair of these plates at opposite ends of the weight member 85.

The cutter 83 is sufliciently massive so that it remains in contact with the lower wall of the pipe during the rotation thereof. The blades 90 thus scrape the inner surface of the pipe. When a pipe having longitudinally extending slots is being cleaned, this type of cutter is very satisfactory. In other instances, however, it may be desirable to change the shape of the channel 86 so that the blades 90 are mounted in herringbone relationship relative to each other, so that the cutting edge thereof is not parallel to the axis of the pipe 20. Such a cutter is, however, more difficult to form in view of the fact that the cutting edges are not straight.

The position of the cutter 83 with respect to the pipe 20 is, of course, determinedby the position of the carriage 7'7 relative to the track means '70. When the carriage '77 is at the left end of the track means, the cutter 83 is positioned a maximum distance in the pipe 20. The length of the track means is so designed as to permit the longest desired length of pipe to be cleaned by a single movement of the cutter into and from the pipe.

When the carriage '77 is moved to the right to the end of the track means '70, the cutter 83 is drawn completely from the pipe 20 and moves onto a supporting means in the form of a trough 95. This trough is supported between the end support 10 and the frames '71 by a suitable structure 96, and at such a height that the bottom thereof is at substantially the same elevation as the bottom of the pipe 20. A spout 97 is formed on the trough and guides the cutter 83 thereinto.

The carriage '77 is moved along the track means I0 by the use of a suitable drive means which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is in the form of a chain 100 adaptedto move through a closed path, a portion of this path being along the track means '70. During a movement through this portion of the path, the chain 100 rests on a wooden block 101 positioned on top of the I-beam '73, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Idler sprockets 102 and 103 are positioned at each end of the block 101 and serve to guide the chain thereon. In addition, each frame '71 is provided with an idler sprocket 104 over which the chain extends. The end frame adjacent the supporting structure 96 includes two of the sprockets 104, the chain forming a loop 105 between these sprockets. A sprocket 106 engages this loop and drives the entirechain. The sprocket 106 is in turn driven by a worm gear 107 meshed with a worm 108 secured to a motor 109. It is preferable that the motor 109 be of the variable-speed reversible type, and that the control therefor be positioned at the same remote control station as the valve 52 and the controls for the motor 60 so that the movement of all of the parts of the apparatus may be controlled from a single point.

The chain 100 is positioned in a guide 115 secured to theinside of the carriage '77, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to be movable therethrough.' The chain is releasably connected to the carriage 7'7 adjacent the guide 1-15 'by means of a slip device'lld-including aplunger' 118 vert ically movable in the boreof a" head 120, 'asbest shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of this .plunger 118 is bevelled so that the point thereof extends between adjacent cross members of the chain, these cross members being shown in Fig. '2 as comprising rollers 122 rotatably mounted 'on pins 123 in the usual manner. The plu-nger 1l8 is resiliently forced downward through the action of a spring 125 compressed between this plunger and an adjusting member 126 threaded into the upper end of the head 120, there being a lock nut 12'? for holding the adjusting member 126-in a desired position. Should the cutter 83 or the ram engage an obstruction, the driving force on the chain 100 will cause the roller 122 to elevate the plunger 118. due tothe beveled'engagement. The plunger 118 thus moves up and down into successive spaces between the rollers 122, and allows the chain to move relative to the carriage '77. This prevents any danger of the chain becoming broken should the force required to move the carriage '77 become too large.

In the operation of our invention, a length of pipe 20 is placed on the rolls 18 and 19 by any desired means. The four-way valve 52 is then operated in such a manner as to lower the arm structure 33 until the roller 30 contacts the periphery of the pipe with a desired pressure. Energization of the motor 60 will then set the pipe 20 into rotation. The operator then energizes the motor 109 so as to move the cutter 83 from its position in the trough 95, the cutter being slowly advanced through the rotating pipe until it reaches the other endof the pipe. The motor 109 is then reversed and the cutter 83 slowly withdrawn from the pipe 20. It is preferable to utilize both the advancing and reversing movement of the cutter 83 to perform the smoothing operations, for this has been found to permit faster operation and to effect a better cleaning action.

The extent of the cleaningaction, of course, depends upon the relative movement of the pipe 20 and the ram 80. The former may be controlled by changing the speed of the motor 60, or by increasing or decreasing the friction between the roller 30 and the pipe 20. The speed of movement of the ram 80 may be regulated by changing the speed of the motor 109, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention we prefer to utilize a variable speed motor in this capacity.

The flexibility of this system is manifold. In the first place, it will handle a pipe of large or small diameter equally well. Secondly, the drive means is entirely above the pipe so that it is never contaminated by any of the material removed from the interior of the pipe and which ordinarily falls through the slots in the pipe. In addition, our apparatus is not limited to the use of a pipe of any particular length, for this is compensated for by stopping the forward movement of the carriage '77 at the desired position.

We claim as our invention: a

1. In combination: means for rotatably mounting a section of pipe, said means including parallel primary and secondary shafts disposed at one end of said section of pipe, each of said shafts including a roll engaging the surface of said section of pipe and at least one of said shafts including a stop member spaced from said roll; a member attachable to the end of said pipe section and extending into the space between said 7 roll and said stop member to prevent unlimited axial movement of said section of pipe when rotating; and means-for rotating said section of pipe; I

i 2.- In a pipe-cleaning machine, the combination of: means for supporting a length of pipe; a track means extending away from one end of said pipe; a carriage movable along said track means; a cutter mounted on said carriage to be moved into said pipe when said carriage is moved toward said pipe; a drive member operably connected to said carriage and movable through a closed path, a portion of said path being parallel to said track means; means for releasably connecting-said drive member and said carriage when resistance to motion of said cutter reaches a predetermined amount; and means for moving said drive member.

3; A combinationas defined in claim 2 in which said drive member is in the form of a chain providing cross members, and including a means releasably' connecting said carriage and said chain, which means comprises a plunger resiliently extending between said cross members.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of: means for rotatably sup porting a hollow cylindrical member; friction means for rotating said member about its longitudinal axis; guide means extending away from one end of said member; a carriage movable along said guide means; a rod connected to said carriage and adapted to be moved thereby into said member; a cutting means carried by said rod and adapted for engagement with the inner surface of said member; drive means for moving said carriage along said guide means, said drive means including an endless member; and a releasable connection between said carriage and said endless member operable to allow said endless member to move independently of said carriage when an excess longitudinal resistance is encountered by said cutting means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 including means for controlling the friction developed by said friction means so as to allow slippage between said friction means and said cylindrical member when an excessive rotative resistance is encountered.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said friction means is variable.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of: a primary frame; a pair of rotatably mounted rolls spaced from each other on said frame for rotatably supporting a cylindrical member to be cleaned; a secondary frame associated with said primary frame; a track on said secondary frame; a carriage movable along said track; a cutter mounted on said carriage to be moved into said cylindrical member when said carriage is moved toward said member; a drive member operably connected to said carriage and movable through a closed path; a tertiary frame; an arm structure pivoted to said tertiary frame and being movable toward and away from said 9. A combination as defined in claim '7 including guide means on said secondary frame for supporting said cutter when it is withdrawn from said cylindrical member, said guide means guiding said cutter into said cylindrical member when said carriage moves toward said cylindrical member.

10. In combination: a supporting frame; a pair of rolls rotatably mounted on said frame in spaced relationship and rotatably supporting a cylindrical member to be interiorly scraped; an arm structure pivoted on said frame and being movable toward or away from said member; fluid means for controlling the position of said arm structure; a roller rotatably mounted on said arm structure so as to frictionally contact the surface of said cylindrical member in driving relationship; and drive means for said roller including an electric motor mounted on said arm structure.

11. In a pipe-cleaning machine, the combination of: means for supporting and rotating a pipe; a cleaning structure adapted to be moved axially through said pipe for cleaning the interior.

thereof; feeding means for feeding said cleaning means; and connecting means for connecting said cleaning means and saidfeeding means, said connecting means releasing when the resistance to the feed of said cleaning means reaches a certain 

